Attendance Dues

There is a cost to your choice.  Catholic schooling is more expensive than state schools. The main reason is that while the Government meets the ownership costs (land and buildings) of state schools from general taxation, the Catholic church has to meet the ownership costs of its schools from those who attend them. These costs include purchasing land, building and maintaining school facilities and insurance. Historically, many of these costs were funded through loans, which need to be repaid. While considerable debt has been paid off, new debt continues to be needed to upgrade (and in some cases expand) the Catholic school network, and keep up with the Ministry of Education’s school property standards.

Most of the owners of Catholic schools in New Zealand (Bishops and religious orders) have pooled their resources to manage the costs of owning the schools. By working together, we achieve lower interest rates on debt, better terms, more manageable payments and lower insurance premiums. The Dunedin Diocese share of the annual costs of ownership for is over $2 million. By law, we are able to charge parents and caregivers of children at Catholic schools a fee to meet those costs. This is known as an attendance due. 

Parents and caregivers are legally obliged to pay this – it is not a donation or voluntary payment. The payment is not based on any capital expenditure at the school you attend. It represents your share of the overall costs each year of continuing to provide a Catholic school option for children in Otago and Southland. 

Parents and caregivers before you have paid their share, and allowed you to exercise your choice for a Catholic education for your child. Parents and caregivers after you will enjoy the same choice because you pay your share. 

Apart from your parish priest or school principal, your main point of contact for any questions about the attendance dues system or the information presented on your invoice is the Attendance Dues Administrator:   Phone 03 222 0006     Email dues.cdd@cathconnect.nz 

This is a part time position, so please email us your inquiry to ensure it does not get lost .

Despite their best intentions, some parents and caregivers struggle to afford the payments, for all the sorts of reasons that life throws at us. If that happens, what are your options? The sooner you ask for help, the sooner we can provide it. The Bishops of this Diocese have consistently said that no-one from a Catholic family is to be denied access to a Catholic education solely due to inability to pay. In cases of hardship, talk to your school principal or parish priest. They can talk through your situation and help find options to suit, including spreading payments in a manageable way, preferably through direct debit or automatic payment.

To contact someone in the Attendance Dues Office about arrears or outstanding debt, please email  dues.cdd@cathconnect.nz 

To set up a payment plan through internet banking please the use the following details:

 Bank: ANZ   Account Name: Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Dunedin 

Note: this may only give a partial match with your bank due to the new banking regulations.

Account Number: 06 0901 0252926 00

Particulars: Enter Your Surname and Initials e.g. Smith J

Code: Enter Your Dues Account Number e.g. AB12345  

(Your number is essential for us to credit the correct account)

Reference: Enter Abbreviated Name of School and Place e.g. St Pat Inv or St Mary Dn

Call us if you need help setting this payment up. Our details are below.